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San Jose, Calif. – How to get from one place to another on VTA is now just a click away - thanks to a new online trip planner being unveiled today by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in partnership with Google, the world’s largest search engine. The partnership delivers yet another powerful technology tool to help VTA riders get where they need to go more quickly and easily than ever before.

VTA is piloting its new Trip Planner powered by Google, which allows customers to plan trips throughout VTA's service area using VTA's light rail and bus system. Each search request provides satellite images and user-friendly maps displayed beside a transit route itinerary. The service also provides estimates on walking time, overall travel time and monetary savings from choosing transit over driving.

“This partnership between VTA and Google combines 21st Century technology in a way that is sheer simplicity to use.” VTA spokesperson Bernice Alaniz said.    VTA's Trip Planner powered by Google enables customers to enter the specifics of their trip such as starting and ending points and departure and arrival times. VTA's Trip Planner powered by Google then uses all available VTA schedules and information to plot out the most efficient possible step-by-step itinerary. Additionally, VTA schedules will now be a part of Google Transit Trip Planner.

The addition of trip planning to VTA's website is consistent with customer suggestions from a recent web survey and recommendations from VTA's Ridership Initiative to Develop Energy Efficiency (RIDE) Task Force.   In September 2005, the VTA Board of Directors approved the formation of RIDE Task Force, made up of business and community representatives, to develop a comprehensive list of ideas for improving VTA service.  VTA will continue to solicit user feedback to learn how the Trip Planner can be improved to better meet the needs of VTA riders.

To access transit VTA's Trip Planner powered by Google, visit www.vta.org or www.google.com/transit. For more information about VTA services and programs, contact VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300, TDD for the hearing impaired (408) 321-2330, or log on to www.vta.org.

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About VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; and countywide transportation planning. As such, VTA is both an accessible transit provider and multi-modal transportation planning organization involved with transit, highways and roadways, bikeways and pedestrian facilities.

For more information about VTA services, call VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300, (408) 321-2330 (TDD only). Or, log on to www.vta.org.